Myanmar Spitfire hunters say search has hit snag

An excavation team hunting for dozens of World War II-era British fighter aircraft believed buried at Myanmar's main international airport says its search will take longer than expected after a survey discovered bundles of electric cables in the way.

A retired Myanmar geology professor who is helping hunt for the rare Spitfires, Soe Thein, said Friday that the team found crates that could contain the planes at Yangon airport.

He said cables and water pipes were found above them, and there is no blueprint for their precise locations.

He said that will make unearthing them more time-consuming.

There was no word on when crates would finally be unearthed.

The Spitfire won fame for helping Britain beat back waves of enemy bombers during the war.